This article was originally emailed as our monthly Workplace Design & Management newsletter at 11:00 on 18/01/2018. You can view older newsletters here and register to receive them monthly.
ROBOTS, AI, BIG DATA
Should we be scared?
Without even mentioning Brexit, these are uncertain times. Commentators and futurologists opine about the accelerating impact of technology on our daily lives. Depending on your disposition, this is either exciting or terrifying! Pessimists threaten job losses and changes on a scale not seen since the Industrial Revolution. Yet, simultaneously, governments and regions are creating Smart Cities, architects and designers are launching Smart Buildings and public and private travel planners promote driverless cars and automated mass transit systems. Surely, these developments will make our lives easier – and better? Whatever your view, these are all extra factors to consider in a workplace context which is already seeing a quickening pace of change as a result of agile working, technology and changing attitudes. My plan for 2018 is to explore some of these concepts, their interaction and impact. Happy New Year!
BIFM CONFERENCE 2018
Think (beyond) FM – adapt or disappear
In the context outlined above, this year’s BIFM conference explores the dramatic changes in the workplace and how Facilities Managers can shape and respond to those changes. As FMs and HR managers discuss what experience and qualifications a Chief Workplace Officer might need, there are exciting opportunities for those with the drive and vision to absorb the latest thinking, harness the technology and help invent the future.
RETREAT BOOTH
Single & double units with multiple options
Open plan offices need space away from the desk for individual concentration or for collaboration without distracting others. There are many approaches to these requirements and enclosed booths are a popular solution.
For an effective individual breakout booth or a more complex room-within-a-room, the Retreat range offers modules accommodating one to four people with everything they need close at hand. To complement the stylish and relaxed design, buyers can specify LED lighting, power sockets, USB charging, smart TVs and a central table to create well-equipped individual or collaboration spaces. Everything necessary to encourage productivity is immediately accessible and ready for use. Please call us for further information.
STILL NOT RESUBSCRIBED?
You could win an iPad!
Despite my previous entreaties, many recipients have still not reregistered to continue receiving this newsletter. We have to ask this to comply with the imminent new data protection regulations. I know we shall lose many subscribers but I am hoping to retain a few more! I really do appreciate your continued interest. It will only take a couple of minutes and, as an extra inducement, we shall be holding a prize draw for all registrants on April 30th with a 128Gb iPad 9.7 as the prize. There will also be a monthly prize of a Contour Unimouse between January and March. Don’t worry if you have already resubscribed: you will still be in the draws!
Posted by Guy Osmond 
As you can see below, we are launching a handful of new services for 2018 and there is plenty more to come. Our long-awaited web site redesign really has been (and continues to be) a monumental task and will finally be launched in the second quarter of the year. It will be much more than a simple shopfront and has involved a lot of strategic thinking about what we shall need to represent the business effectively in the foreseeable future. There will also be some slight branding changes to coincide. Exciting! More soon.
This year’s regional training tour is now taking shape rapidly. The programme, featuring 
To coincide with the training tour, we shall also be offering product roadshows at each of the venues on the previous day. This will enable you to compare all the latest products side-by-side and benchmark them against established best sellers and your existing personal favourites. These free events will run during the afternoon and into the evening to suit self-employed consultants who prefer to visit outside office hours. To express interest in these free roadshows, register 
Another new service to be introduced this year is our programme of end-user product reviews. Participants will be sent a new product for assessment over a four week period. They will then be asked to complete a short online survey. On completion of the questionnaire, they will be invited to keep the product if they like it. Since all products will have already been through our internal 
Despite my previous entreaties in this newsletter, many recipients have still not 
Osmond Ergonomics 